Colonel Wright Elementary School

As a middle-of-the-pack K-5 school in The Dalles, Oregon, Colonel Wright Elementary School serves 291 students from grades K through 5, part of North Wasco County SD 21.

Colonel Wright Elementary School is one of 7 schools operated by North Wasco County SD 21, a district that serves 2,834 students overall.

Demographically, Colonel Wright Elementary School reports that 51% of students identify as White, with the remaining enrollment distributed across several groups. Beyond that, the school records 40% Hispanic, 4% multiracial, 2% Native American. By comparison, Wasco County as a whole is about 75% White, so the school skews noticeably less White than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, Colonel Wright Elementary School logs 18 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 16.2:1. The state averages about 16.5:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. Roughly 99% of students at Colonel Wright Elementary School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), Colonel Wright Elementary School tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 24.3% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 24.2%.

Around the school, census data for Wasco County shows median household earnings sit near $64,175, roughly 22% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 7%. Colonel Wright Elementary School is one of 11 public schools in Wasco County (combined enrollment of about 3,407 students).

Nearest neighbor: The Dalles High School, around 0.5 miles off. Within five miles, there are 5 other public schools. On composite proficiency, Colonel Wright Elementary School comes 6th of 8 in the immediate cluster, beneath the nearby-schools average of 28.5%.

Colonel Wright Elementary School operates from a town-center location.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count shrank 12%: 331 students in 2018 compared to 291 in 2025.

On the community side, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around school events, parent volunteer needs, and clubs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.